Collapsible receptacle for carrying goods



J. S STUBBS.

COLLAPSIBLE RECEPTACLE FOR CARRYING GODDS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, 1919.

1.3353137. Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

JOHN STEVENSON STUBBS, 0F LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

, COLIJAPSIBLE RECEPTACLE FOR CARRYING GOODS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

Application filed March 14, 1919. Serial No. 282,684.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN STEvnNsoN STUBBs, of 21 Albert Drive, Aintree, Liverpool, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Liverpool, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Receptacles for Carrying Goods, ofv which the following is a specification.

Considerable difficulty and expense is occasioned by reason of the space occupied when receptacles which are used for conveying goods or parcels are to be returned empty, the space taken up by such empty receptacles causing unnecessary charges for carriage or for stowage. A collapsible type of receptacle is desirable, so that such return charges may be minimized or in order that a number of such receptacles may be stored in their collapsed form occupying a minimum space, and be ready for use as occasion requires.

The present invention is directed to improvements in that type of collapsible receptacle in which a four-sided framework is provided, the sides of which are hinged or pivoted together'in such manner that the.

framework may be folded flat on to itself, top and bottom closing elements or lids being hinged to the upper and lower edges of opposite sides of the framework in such manner that when the framework is opened out the lids form closing elements for the top and bottom of the receptacle. collapsible receptacle in accordance with this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1. is a plan view of the box showing the bottom closed and the top lid open. Fig. 2. is a section on the line A. A. of Fig. 1. Fig. 3. is a fragmentary View correspondingto Fig. 1. butshowing how the sides of the box collapse, and

Fig. 4. is a perspective view showing a pair of sheet metal hinge elements having relatively staggered convex projections and serrated edges for securing the elements to the edges of the box sides.

The receptacle comprises a four-sided framework the sides 1, 2, 3 and 4 of which are hinged together at 12 along their vertical edges so that the framework may be collapsed on itself as indicated in Fig. 3. The framework is provided with a bottom closing element 5 hinged at 6 to the inner face 3 and at the lower edge of the wall 3. In the case an oblong box, as illustrated, the

base 5 is hinged to one of the longer side walls. The opposite side 1 and one of the adj acent' sides 1 are fitted with inwardly projecting ribs 7, 8, or other abutments against which, when the four-sided framework is extended, the base 5 rests. When the box is collapsed as shown in Fig. 3, a sufficient space 8 is left to house these projecting ribs 7, 8. If desired, projecting ribs may be formed around all four sides of the collapsible framework, but in that case the ribs are not continuous, but are made in the form of a number of separate projections or short ribs and so disposed that the proj ections' on the sides 1, 1-, are staggered with reference to the projections on the sides 2, 3, so that the projections intermesh with one another when the framework is collapsed. By hinging the base 5 in this way so that it may fold against the inner face of one of the side walls of the framework when collapsed, the base is inclosed and protected within the collapsed framework, and when the framework is extended and the base opened-out against the ribsor 'abutments 7, 8, on the framework, the latter is rigidly positioned by the base in a rectangular formation, and racking of the structure pre- 1 vented. In order to provide for a sufficient space being left within-thecollapsed framework to house the base in this way, the axes a, a, of the hinges at diagonally opposite corners of the framework are not arranged coincident with the origin of the right angles formed when opened by the inner faces of the framework walls at such corners, but are set in some little distance along either side wall of such corner angles. With this arrangement, when the frame Work is collapsed the opposing faces remain apart, see Fig. 3, a distance correspondingto the amountby which the hinge axes have been inset, such amount being made equal to the thickness of the base.

A simple type of locking mechanism is provided for retaining the base in its distended or opened out position. This looking mechanism may take the form of a spring trail catch 9 projecting inward from one or more of the inner faces of the framework, the base 5 as it is pushed downward into the opened framework clicking past the catch and being held against return movement until the catch is released, which may only be done from the inside. In order to permit of the lid 14: folding back on to the exterior of the framework when collapsed and quite flat against the outer face of the side wall 1 to which it is hinged, the lid hinges 15 are so constructed as shown that although the 'lid when closed covers the top of the box completely as indicated in dotted lines, including the upper edges of the framework walls, the axis 15 of the lid hinge lies along the upper edge of the lid, such an arrangement permitting of a lid of the necessary size as mentioned folding flat against the framework when collapsed in the direction of the arrow 0. i

For enabling the box to be made of threeplyor other wood, hinge fittings of sheet metal are provided adapted to incase the edges of the walls, lid, and if desired base also Each hinge comprises a pair of elements, Fig. 1, which are stamped up from sheet metal and are formed with convex, or semi-cylindrical, projections 10, and cut away portions 11, which are relatively alternated or staggered in the hinge pair in such manner, that when fitted together in place on the adjoining edges of the side walls 1, 2, 3, or 4, of the box, the projecting por tions 10 enter the recesses or cut away portions 11 in the other element of the hinge, the projecting portions 10 of both elements thus alining themselves and permitting of a pin 12 being inserted through the intermeshed projections 10 to connect the hinge elements pivotally together. by extending throughout the entire length of the edges of the box wall framework effectively closes the junction of the box edges when the framework is extended as in Fig. 1. The sectional shape of that portion of the hinge fittings which incases the edge of the box walls or the like may be modified to suit particular requirements; for instance, the hinge elements a in the opposite diagonal corners of the box framework are made somewhat different to the hinge elements 5 in the other diagonal corners, the pivots 12 of the hinge elements a not being at the origin of the angle formed by the inner faces of the side elements but being set in slightly as shown along the ends 2 and at to permit of a space 8 being left, as shown in Fig. 3, to house the base 5 of the receptacle when the base is folded up as shown by the arrow Fig. 2 and the side walls 001- lapsed. For a similar reason the hinge ele- Such a joint walls, lid, or base of a box or the like re ceptacle in a simple but secure manner by forming the fittings with serrated edges 13 whichare pressed'into the material of the box and become embedded therein, as shown in Figs; 1, .2, and 3, the length of the checks of the sheet metal stampings being made unequal so that the serrations 13 oneach side of the edge of the material do not coincide, thus preventing cutting through and weakening the material.

WVhile the hinge elements have beendescribed as extending entirely along the edges of the box sides which are required to fold together, they need not necessarily do so, but shorter separated fittings on this principle, as indicated at 15 Fig. 1 for the lid of the box, may be provided.

In the drawings ordinary hinge elements are shown for the base, though these hinges may be made in the way just described. Similarly the inwardly projecting ribs 7 8, against which the base restswhcn open, are also formed of sheet metal stampings having serrated edges 18 which are-pressed into the lower edges of the walls 1, 4.

I claim:

A collapsible box or receptacle comprising four sides, constituting the frame work, a base hinged to a side wall, inwardly projecting ribs carried on the inside of one or more of the sides against which the base rests when the frame work is extended, hinges for connecting the frame work members at the corners, the axes of the hinges at diagonally opposite corners being off-set with relation to the origin of the right angles formed by the inner faces of the frame work walls. when opened, acatoh at tached to the frame work and bearing against the base, a lid and a hinge for the'lid having its axis at the upper edge of said lid.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of .two witnesses. 7

JOHN STEVENSON STUBBS.

Witnesses: V

A. J. DAVIES, E. M. CONWAY. 

